Free Arts & Crafts and STEM & Youth Preparedness Workshops Begin July 7 in Boston Parks

 Free Arts & Crafts and STEM & Youth Preparedness Workshops Begin July 7 in Boston Parks

The Boston Parks and Recreation Department’s is pleased to announce the return of free Arts & Crafts Workshops and the introduction of STEM & Youth Preparedness Workshops for children through the ParkARTS program. From West Roxbury to East Boston, kids ages three to ten can enjoy a wide variety of activities led by local artists and instructors at workshops held from 10 a.m. to 12 noon in neighborhood parks. 

In addition to arts programming, ParkARTS will also debut free STEM and Youth Preparedness Workshops on Mondays throughout July and August. Led by a Boston Public Schools teacher and staff from the City of Boston Office of Emergency Management, these hands-on workshops combine interactive STEM activities with lessons on emergency preparedness, including how to recognize hazards and prepare for emergencies.   

"Summer in Boston's parks is all about giving children and families opportunities to connect, learn, explore, and create," said Diana Fernandez Bibeau, Commissioner of Parks and Recreation and Deputy Chief of Open Space. "From hands-on arts and crafts to emergency preparedness lessons, these free workshops offer a welcoming space to discover new skills. Early exposure to STEM is critical for shaping the next generation of innovators, and we are proud to use our parks to inspire young minds and open doors to future career possibilities.” 

“When it comes to emergencies like power outages or severe storms, preparedness isn't just an adult responsibility, it’s a family teamwork activity. By using fun, accessible tools like the 'Prepare with Pedro' series, we can teach our young students how to stay calm, find a flashlight, and know what goes into an emergency kit. When kids know what to expect, it replaces fear with confidence, making our whole community safer and more resilient.”, Kendall Basham, Emergency Manager and Regional Coordinator for Boston Office of Emergency Management. 

Participation is free and all materials are provided. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Groups of eight or more must pre-register by emailing parks@boston.gov or by calling the Parks Department at (617) 961-3082. 

The Marionette Puppet Show series will also return in July and August during various children’s workshops. See Boston’s parks come alive with Rosalita’s Puppets featuring marionettes made by professional actor-puppeteer Charlotte Anne Dore. Each puppet show will begin at 11:00 a.m. See the schedule below for details. 

Arts and Crafts Workshops dates and locations are as follows, 10 a.m. to 12 noon:

Tuesdays, July 7, 14, & 21

Iacono Playground, Hyde Park

Walsh Playground, Dorchester

Wednesdays, July 8, 15, & 22

Marcella Playground, Roxbury

Hynes Field, West Roxbury

Thursdays, July 9, 16, & 23

Fallon Field, Roslindale 

Walker Playground, Mattapan 

Fridays, July 10, 17, & 24

Mozart Street Playground, Jamaica Plain 

Joyce Playground, Allston-Brighton

Tuesdays, July 28, August 4 & 11

LoPresti Park, East Boston 

Elliot Norton Park, Chinatown

Wednesdays, July 29, August 5 & 12

Training Field, Charlestown

Mission Hill Playground, Mission HIll

Thursdays, July 30, 6, & 13

Medal of Honor Park, South Boston 

Myrtle Street Playground, Beacon Hill

Fridays, July 30, August 7 & 14

Training Field, Charlestown

Doherty-Gibson Playground, Dorchester 

STEM and Youth Preparedness Workshops

STEM Workshops begin at 10:00 a.m. followed by Youth Preparedness Workshops at 11:00 a.m.

Monday, July 6

Paris Street Playground, East Boston

Monday, July 13

McConnell Park, Dorchester

Monday, July 20

Tiffany Moore Tot Lot, Franklin Park

Monday, July 27

Moakley Park, South Boston

Monday, August 3

Hunt-Almont Park, Mattapan

Monday, August 10

Peters Park, South End

Rosalita’s Puppets Marionette Performances

Performances are at 11:00 a.m. Dates and locations are as follows:

Thursday, July 23

Fallon Field, Roslindale 

Friday, July 24

Mozart Street Playground, Jamaica Plain 

Thursday, July 30

Myrtle Street Playground, Beacon Hill

Friday, July 31

O’Day Playground, South End

Thursday, August 6

Medal of Honor Park, South Boston

Friday, August 7

Doherty-Gibson Playground, Dorchester

For more information, visit boston.gov/parkarts. To stay up to date with news, events, and improvements in Boston parks visit boston.gov/parks, call (617) 635-4505, join our email list, and follow our social channels at @parks.boston.gov on Bluesky and @bostonparksdept on Facebook and Instagram